Need help on restoring garage floor

[bsteeves]

Hello garage experts, I am in desperate need of advice. I moved into my house about 2 years ago. I have spent much of time improving the landscape and working inside the house. It is now time to focus on the garage. It is a complete disaster. The walls are extremely dirty and much of the cabinetry is outdated. Those are all relatively easy fixes. Where I am completely lost is the flooring.

The house was built in 1972 and it does not appear much as been done to improve the cement slab in the garage. It is very pitted, very dusty, and has some cracks that were repaired haphazardly. With that said I am looking for some advice regarding the path to take to get my floor looking nice.

Here are a few photos to show you what I am dealing with:

 

[Chucktown]

Do you live in an area with cold winters? Looks like salt damage to the floor.

 

[Edger]

Looks like a soft concrete slab with no water barrier under it and moist soil below. Or it could just be salt damage which is probably as bad. Maybe better to look at tiles/racedeck etc.

 

[bsteeves]

I live in Poughkeepsie, NY so salt damage is definitely a possibility. The garage is extremely dusty.

 

[hardhat]

Do a moisture test, if that checks out grind floor. Hand grind problem areas and fill with an epoxy filler, Legacy seems to have the gel type that has had good results then grind smooth. You look lke a good candidate for garage tiles from Racedeck or Garage Flooring as to not mess with the epoxy route.

 

[slickgt1]

Porcelain tile. Racedeck if you want it quick, and pay a bit more.

 

[TRC51]

I am just north of you toward Albany and I am having the same exact issue. Garage floor looks very much the same. I have been back and forth about racedeck and the like because it really seems to be the best option. However, just recently I have been seeing more and more about the porcelain tile. Quite honestly, i am not a tile guy at all.... but if moisture turns out not to be a problem and this is just a result of salt damage.... I may just go with porcelain tile and **** up the work to do it. Would be good practice for me anyway.

For quick and easy solution though... definitely do something like racedeck. 1 day of work and you will be done! So tempting...

 

[slickgt1]

I am just north of you toward Albany and I am having the same exact issue. Garage floor looks very much the same. I have been back and forth about racedeck and the like because it really seems to be the best option. However, just recently I have been seeing more and more about the porcelain tile. Quite honestly, i am not a tile guy at all.... but if moisture turns out not to be a problem and this is just a result of salt damage.... I may just go with porcelain tile and **** up the work to do it. Would be good practice for me anyway.

For quick and easy solution though... definitely do something like racedeck. 1 day of work and you will be done! So tempting...

Your avatar made me re-read your post 10 times. I couldn't concentrate. You will not regret tile.

 

[Journaler]

Your avatar made me re-read your post 10 times. I couldn't concentrate. You will not regret tile.

Haha, I had to turn off avatars specifically because of his avatar. Good to know I'm not the only one!

 

[bsteeves]

How do I go about performing a moisture test?

 

[CT2012]

hey, welcome to floor hell. join the club.

don't worry, it's all readily fixed by two things: 1) time or 2) money.

 

[certificatekas]

The resurfacing material won't bond to loose concrete, paint, grease, algae or mildew. So pressure-wash the entire floor with concrete cleaner and a clean-water rinse.
certificate iv in training and assessment Perth
certificate 4 in training and assessment

 

[TRC51]

Your avatar made me re-read your post 10 times. I couldn't concentrate. You will not regret tile.

LOL... it happens. I gotta have something to give members an incentive to read my posts.

 

[slickgt1]

LOL... it happens. I gotta have something to give members an incentive to read my posts.

Um, its hard to get any reading done with your avatar. lol.

 

[milner351]

Wow- that avatar... were there words anywhere on this page? ;-)

 

[TRC51]

LOL

HEY LOOK OVER HERE!!!


So here's a question about porcelain:

How well does the grout hold up to the salt and sand of the North? I would hate to go through all that work and then have the grout fail in 5 years.

P.S. I hope you guys can read this.

 

[slickgt1]

LOL

HEY LOOK OVER HERE!!!


So here's a question about porcelain:

How well does the grout hold up to the salt and sand of the North? I would hate to go through all that work and then have the grout fail in 5 years.

P.S. I hope you guys can read this.

She keeps looking at me.

Still looking.

Hi.

Ok, I put a post-it over your avatar.

I have epoxy grout. I do not foresee anything happening to it anytime soon. 2 Years now, Can't even tell that I spilled a 5 gal bucket of trans fluid on it once. Yup, don't ask. Lots of other car fluid spills, including fuel. Salt, melting snow, you name it, has been on it. Honestly looks the same as the day I put it down. Stupid PL premium on the tiles though, yea that requires a wire brush. What an epic glue.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Man the exposed aggregate is a killer. Likely the concrete was weak and the salt finished it off.

My vote is a tile system like racedeck, etc...

Instant gratification!

God bless the men who post these nice avatars.
There is an Okie out there with a killer avatar too. George Lamb??

Wish he would chime in to complete the set for us.

 

[DefSport]

Go with a PEI 4 or PEI 5 porcelain tile that's impervious to water. Should be good to go for a long time after that. I don't think you could epoxy over that without a ton of work.

Racedeck is an option if you want to spend more than the tile.